Utilization of a waste audit at a community hospital emergency department to quantify waste production and estimate environmental impact

Introduction A waste audit can clarify waste composition and inform improvements in waste disposal, thereby decreasing carbon emissions and reducing costs. The purpose of this study was to conduct a waste audit in the Emergency Department of a suburban community hospital to identify waste content, estimate environmental impact and explore avenues for improvement in waste disposal. Methods A 24-hour waste audit was performed in the ED of a community hospital in January 2020. The audit examined all waste generated in the ED during the study period. Waste was collected, manually sorted by predominant material, and weighed. Direct pollutant emissions were calculated using the M+WasteCare Calculator. Results A total of 255.30 kilograms (kg) of waste was produced in a 24-h period, of which 98.2% was solid waste and 1.8% was regulated medical waste. A total of 1.63 kg of waste was produced per patient encounter. The largest category of waste was plastic (61.0%), followed by paper (18.2%). More than 170 unused items (5.2% of total waste) were identified during the audit, including unopened boxes of gloves, surgical face masks, suturing material, and medications. The audit also identified 418 Styrofoam cups disposed of in a 24-h period, which extrapolates to an estimated 152,570 disposed cups each year. Direct pollutant emissions from waste disposal in the ED were estimated at 304 kg of carbon dioxide per day. Conclusions This 24-h waste audit in the ED of a community hospital identified waste content, estimated environmental impact, and proposed potential avenues for improvement in waste disposal.